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STS-134: The TRUTH

As a nerd, I know a lot of people that are boo-hoo-hoo-ing and getting all misty eyed about this week’s STS-134, otherwise known as the final flight of the space shuttle Endeavour. Now, I’m not too sad to see the shuttle fleet get retired – I mean, imagine if you had to drive around in your uncle’s souped up Chevy Nova. Pretty sweet to start, but after 30 years? That’s a lot of miles under the hood.

Anyway, like any good story that comes to an end, NASA is saving the best for last – or nearly last. You see, today squid have been launched into space.

I mean, that might be the coolest squid-related news since… well, that might be the coolest squid related news. Period.

Squids. In. Space.

Release the... oh, nevermind...

I know I know, the “purpose” of the “experiment” being conducted this week is to examine the effects of microgravity on the assimilation of a bacterial symbiont. But really, don’t you have to ask the question of why one would have to test a squid’s organismal development in zero gravity? Last time I checked squids don’t do so well outside of the ocean, right?

Well – I would think the answer is plain enough. THE SQUID ARE MOVING ON TO THE STARS! I mean, don’t the classic “rocketships” from the early 20th century look an awful lot like squids?!?!? Obviously, they (and their human minions conspirators) have been paving the way for their extraterrestrial colonization for years – and now they’re enacting their tentacular plan.

Rocketship?

My only guess is that sometime in the future – weeks, years, millennia (time may be meaningless to space-squids) – they will return. And what will they want? What is their ultimate squiddish plan?

Coming to a future near you

Well, do you think it’s an accident that this week’s experiment is about assimilation?!!?!?

HG — I think it sounds like a so-awesomely-bad-it’s-good sort of series… :) I have never had grilled squid on pizza, but I do like grilled squid in general — a local favorite snack is a spicy, grilled calamari taco.

**In a rare paucity of insight you ask, “What is their squiddish plan?” Come on! What kind of scientist ARE you anyway? When have you ever met a squid who, in his or her heart of hearts didn’t want to fly? No, really. Think about it. If they can fly, they can soar. If they can soar, they can achieve space, uh, flight. And if they can achieve space flight, they can…well, I’m sure you know.

**I have absolutely no idea what you’re talking about, but since I so rarely comment herein I figured I’d give it a shot. Now I remember why I so rarely comment. Sorry dude.

AB — I think the real sadness of the end of the shuttle era is that they’ve known it’s been coming for 15 years now, and they STILL don’t have the “next” option. That’s incredibly dysfunctional even by governmental standards.